Sock package



J. C. BERRY Dec. 7, 1954 SOCK PACKAGE Filed July 22, 1954 JOHN C. Berr AGENTS United States Patent M SO'CK PACKAGE John C.-Berry,Dui'ham,"N.-"C.

Applicationsluly 22, 1954, Serial 'No.:445;041

4 Claims. 46!. 206-48) .Thegpresentzinvention relates to-a package, and more specifically to.-a stocking :package.and.:means formaking same.

The .method of .-marketing sstockings heretofore =em- ;ployed..has usuallytheenifor themanufacturerttor secure the .twostockingsjforming a pairto one anotheriby meanstof .paper -tape :or-the like. l'lhe stockings are then: packaged .several to-a iboxtand shipped in this manner ito the-retailer. Thezretaih dealerzthen :merchandises the stockings lb-y selectingseveral representative colorsandplacing them on .a .display table for examination by customers. .tern-atively the :may place his entire stock (011 a :compartv.menteddisplay ttable.

ThiS,fOlIIll0f marketing possessesseveral disadvantages, a;principal one being the inability .of ;the customer :to tvi sualize how a particular stocking will :appear -.0r :fit when till stretched, twearing -.condition. T his is particularly-undesirable with the; advent of-the so-called fstretch stockings. Another disadvantage is -.that the z'form \Of -..dis play :now employed :requires considerable space 'tto ,properly present .the stockings. Moreover, such :a dis {PlflYFPl'OCEClHlCxI'GSUltS oftentimes in amixingoflsizes and :colors -.due to =continuous customer handling," which requires continuous re-sorting of the stockings to rrestore them :to their proper place. :Further, stockings :fll'fi 'quite .often :separated from their tmates which :oftentimes retguires tconsiderable .eifort to rte-mate -them, 'or results :in the loss :of a complete pair of stockings.

.Jt "has :been :found that these foregoing and zrelated t :'clis- :advantages .can ire-eliminated by-.the ;provisi0n .Ofifl. stockting package in which -.two stockings are applied :over 1a .singletflat :insertuby which a complete pair ofsstockings will-be retained "thereon inta sfairly r'igid:;state --with:.no gpossibility r of the stockings becoming-separated, -.-and will .simil-arlygive :to the wearera 'visual presentation not how tthestocking will. appear -in worn :condition :pr iort to :pnrtchasing thewsame.

:Itds therefore a principaltobject of the-present-iinvenati'on :to provide a :new and novel stocking :package sand ameans for making: same.

tAnother .objectaof the .presentiinventioniis to :provide a 'sstocking package that --will present :a pleasing appearancezto a a customer, I and will cpermit :to visutllizexprior tto :purchase .how the stocking will :appear -in -wearing condition.

Yetzanother-objectof therpresent invention iistthe pro- :vis'ion of a stocking package that will "visually v-present stretch socks in a wearing *condition.

:'A still further :object of the present :invention eis to :provide a stocking packagewthatwill rpermit :of "full distplaytofzvarious sizes sand icolors:inra ($13Y7S1Tlflll :area.

:Another object of (the :present :invention is the protvision 'of :a stocking package that :permits :a zretailer :to .maintain a full= complement .of: stockings iinta .neat=manner :for :examination *by customers Without :a ;corresponding disarrangement of the stockings.

7 Still anotherzobject of the:presentiinvention;is2the:prowi'sionof a machine for fformingrth'e new;and:novel stock- .ing pac kage.

' Other and additional objects will'ibecomemanifestefrmn the :ensuing :description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

:Broadly stated, ;the stocking package :of :the ipresent inventioncornprises a flat insert, :ayfirst:stockingwarried .by said insert, and a second .rmating stocking ccarried by .said first stocking .and said insert.

I-l'o the accomplishment -,of -the ;foregoing and related 2,696,295 Patented Dec. 7:, .1954

ends, the present invention then consists of .the means hereinafter fully described :and particularly pointed 011i .in the claims, -zthe annexed .drawings and :the following .description :setting :forth in detail certain :means in the 5 -c-arrying out .of .the invention, :such tdiselosed ,means til- .lustrating, however, ibuttone .of various ways :in which tthe ."principletofrthe invention may be employed.

.The present invention is illustrated -.by way :of :example in .the .accompanying drawings, .-in .which Figure t1: is. a: side ;elevation'.of an-insert for use; in. forming asstocking package intaccordance .with the present :invention.

.Fig. 2 :iS -.-a qside elevationof .a form of stocking packagecmadein-accordancewith the;,present invention.

:Fig. 13 isa side elevation of anothertform of stocking package :made lll'l accordance with the present invention showing .the same in. folded position.

Fig.4 is,aesidetelevation:.of another form of astocking package made in .;accordance with the present vin- Mention.

Figs. 5 and 6 :316 fragmentary side: elevations'of :stocktinggpackages made .in accordance with the present inven- ..tion illustrating :separate ways for providing informa- ;tion riders to the package.

vFig. 7 is -.a side elevation of still 'anotherform of .a .stockingpackage made in accordance with the present invention.

:Eig. =8 is a {side elevation of an illustrative :form aof 1 a ,maehine in accordance with the present invention for {forming-a stocking,package,-;and

a9 is ta front-elevation .of the machine shownzin Referringmow-to the:drawings,-and-with-particular'ref- .erencetto Eigs. t1 ..-and 2, an illustrative embodiment :of :a stocking zpackage made-in accordance qwith the present .invention, and generallyzdesignated by reference :numeral 10, is shown.

i'llhe stocking ,package -10 comprises. a tflat, oblong strip tinsert or board .111 -.of sheet material made preferably ,from cardboard, chipboard, 101' related paper-type :ma- =terial. The insert .-1 1;is of a'weight andstrength suifi- .cient.to-.suppor.tthe stockings in a flatposition, .and yet \retain its rigidity and original configuration when the stockings are placed thereon and still possess 'a certain degreeof .flexibility.

The insert .11 possesses :a configuration generally resembling that of .a foot .and ankle in 'azflat, vertically .-.straight relation. The insert 11 has a straight, loading .or. forward edge 112 and an upper trailingedgei-IS spaced from and,.;generally;par-allel to edge :12 whichcdefines the ankle :PDItlOIlTOf .the insert-11. The trailing edge 13 terminates in a heel portion 14 corresponding and adapted .toreceivetthe heel portion of/a stocking. The'lower-trailtingtedge r15 of -the insert :11 extends downwardly "from the =hee1;portion '14 in general conformity with the .configuration-of'theroutline of the -,foot and terminating ;,in ,at-roundedttoe portion -16:at;the bottomtend of the insert :111. .Thedengthcflthe insert 1-1.-must be of-a length at .leastssufiicientttofullysupportthe stockingsin a slightly .tensioned, :fiat, (laid :out state, .-and, tin certain :instances, .it will be found advantageous to have the insert --11 somewhaLlon-genthanthestcckingscarried thereby. Similarly, the widthof theiinsert -11-must he=sufficientto placethe sstoctking .in a .flat, slightly 'tensioned state when placed thereon to facilitate the forming of the-package v10=as well as insuring .the positive retention of the stockings thereon,in.their desired=state. While the insert 11 has .been described as,preferably being in-an-elongated ver- .tical .-state. -.it is to -.be :understood that it is within :the spirit .and thescope of this-invention thatan angletype .insertzcan-betemployed.

.The insert 411 !is positioned within a 'first stocking '17 with 'the .foonport-ion and the ankle :portion of the=insert :11 .tsnpporting and engaging the corresponding parts :of tthestocking [17. This a construction :will result tint'the first stocking 1-1 heingheld in .a flat, extended, and slightly .tensioncdrstate. Theinsert .11 "carrying the first stocking {17 is ,positioned within "a second or :matingstocking 18 .inrthex-zsame-mannertas :the insert 111 was-positioned with- -.in thefirst sstocking .:17. This construction :results in -a tfiat stocking package v10 providing aipair :o'f "stockings in a fiat, supported, laid out and slightly tensioned state, and which will present the stocking in a state simllar to that when worn and provides for their shipping, stocking and merchandising without the disadvantages heretofore encountered.

It will be found advantageous, particularly when the stocking package 10 contains large size stockings, to provide means for reducing the size of the package to fac1l1- tate packing, shipping and storing. While, as hereinbefore stated, the insert 11 must be of a strength sufficient to support the stocking in a substantially rigid or partially erect state, the insert 11 may be provided with a score or folding line 19 positioned transverse to the long axis of the insert 11 which will permit the stocking package 10 to be folded upon itself to reduce the s ze of the package, as shown in Fig. 3. While the folding line 19 may be positioned at any suitable point on the insert 11, it is preferred that it be so located that the stocking package 10 may be folded in half with the leading edge 12 of the insert 11 when in the folded state being in alignment. Therefore, it will be found most advantageous to provide a scoring line 19 for the insert 11 which extends across the heel portion 13.

It will be found desirable in instances where high quality stockings are made and it is undesirable to have them excessively handled, with corresponding soilage and the like, to provide protective means. Referring now to Fig. 4, a form of the invention to accomplish this is shown in which the package 10 is inserted Within a transparent flexible wrapper 20 made from cellophane or similar material. It is preferred that the wrapper 20 be of the same general configuration of the insert 11, but slightly oversized. The wrapper 20 may be secured at its top by any suitable means such as gluing, heat sealing, or the like, depending upon the material used. Similarly, an identifying rider 21 which would carry the brand name, size, and other pertinent information could be secured to the open end of the wrapper 20 to secure same, or alternatively, the rider 21 could be attached to the previously closed end of the wrapper 21 by adhesive, stapling, or the like.

Referring now to Figs. and 6, alternative forms of rider securing means are shown for attaching same to stocking package having no wrapper. In the form shown in Fig. 5, the insert 11 containing the stockings 17 and 18 is somewhat longer than the stockings. A rider 21 is then secured to the free end of the insert 11 by any suitable means, thus providing all necessary identification and advertising for the stocking package 10. Another means of accomplishing this is shown in Fig. 6. In this form of the invention, the insert 11 is of substantially the same length as the stockings 17 and 18. The rider 21 is then placed over the top end of the package 10 and adhesively secured to each side of the outer stocking 18, or alternatively, to the stocking 18 and the insert 11.

Reference is now to be had to Fig. 7, wherein a form of the invention is shown which has particular utility with so-called teen-age anklet stockings in which detachable woven large ankle cuffs are worn in conjunction with the stockings. In this form of the invention, the stocking package 10 has a plurality of ankle cufis 22 placed thereon in embracing or encircling tensioned relationship and carried thereby. The cuffs 22 may be any even number, i. e., 2, 4, 6, and may be, if four cuffs are carried as shown, of different or contrasting colors. Thus, it will be possible to provide a single package containing a plurality of separate cuffs thereon and shipped and sold as a single unit.

By the term stocking used herein and in the appended claims, it is used to define mens, womens, and childrens socks and stockings of the type known as ankle socks, as well as socks extending as far as part way up on the calf of a wearer, such as Argyles. stockings is not to include ladies full fashioned sheer hosiery normally sold in full leg length as so-called nylons. It has been found that the sheerness of such hosiery is likely to result in possible damage to the yarn by snagging or the like when a full leg length insert is positioned therein and placing the stocking in a slightly tensioned state. Moreover, a leg length insert which would properly support full length nylon hosiery in a fiat, laid out state would be economically unfeasible from a shipping and marketing standpoint due to its Weight and general bulkiness. However, in view of very The term recent developments toward the development of stretch ladies nylon hosiery which corresponds to the mens one size stretch socks, it is possible to form a ladies nylon hosiery package of the stretchy nylon type, since the nylon hosiery in an unstretched state will be comparatively short in length and will not be likely to be snagged. However, with hosiery of this type, a transparent covered package such as shown in Fig. 4 should be used. The package-forming machine generally designated by reference numeral 29 comprises a pair of thin, oblong, mating front board members 30 and 31 secured at one end to a supporting frame member 32 in upright relationship, with the opposite free end of each being partially rounded. A second pair of mating rear board members 33 and 34 is similarly secured to the frame member 32 in upright relationship therewith, and in slightly spaced relationship. The rear or trailing edge of each rear board member 33 and 34 has a configuration generally similar to that of the trailing edge of insert 11, while each front edge is straight. The upper free end of each rear board member 33 and 34 is partially rounded.

The front board members 30 and 31 are spaced just slightly apart from and in parallel relationship with one another with their rear vertical portionsoverlapping the forward vertical portions of each of the rear board members 33 and 34. This construction results in an arrangement in which the two pair of board members 30, 31, 33 and 34 are so associated to correspond to the overall general configuration of the insert 11, but being slightly oversized with respect thereto and with the partially rounded free end of the respective pairs of board members defining a rounded toe portion. This association defines a pocket into which the insert 11 will be positioned to receive the stockings. Similarly, the respective pairs of board members are mechanically controlled, preferably by cam means or the like, to provide a two step operation for positioning the stockings on the insert 11. This cycle of operation will be explained more fully hereinafter. It should be noted that the spacing between the respective pairs of front and rear members should be such that the insert 11 will be positively retained therein.

To operate the machine 29 to form the package 10, the insert 11 is placed within the pocket formed by the respective pairs of front and rear board members and held in positive position therein. The first stocking 17 is then pulled over the associated pairs of front and rear board members in the position that it will appear on the insert 11. The insert 11 is now ready to be removed. By means of a cam actuation, the two pairs of board members are moved slightly laterally away from one another, releasing the pressure of the board members on the insert 11. Continuing the cam cycle, each pair of board members 30 and 31, and 33 and 34 are moved slightly toward one another transversely with respect to their long axis to reduce the perimetral dimension of the pocket formed by the board members. This action results in freeing the edges of the insert 11 and at the same time bringing the perimetral edge of the insert 11 into engagement with the stocking 17 without any friction being created therebetween. The insert 11 now in engagement with the stocking 17 is grasped between the thumb and index finger and vertically withdrawn from the pocket, bringing the stocking 17 therewith in a properly positioned state thereon. The insert 11, now carrying the stocking 17, is placed in the machine 29 and the operation just described is repeated to place the second stocking 18 thereon. While the operation just described is preferred, it should be noted that both stockings could be placed on the insert at the same time, but it has been found, in order to insure a proper positioning of the stocking on the insert in both instances, as well as eliminating the possibility of stretching one stocking more than another, that the two stage operation be employed.

The advantage of the machine just described is that there is no likelihood of damage to the stocking occurring by pulling the stocking over the insert. Similarly, a proper positioning of both stockings on the insert is always attained. That is to say, the pulling of the insert from between the first board members 30 and 31 will cause the stockings to engage the sides and surface of the insert without any friction being created therebetween.

While the description heretofore given with respect to the present invention has been directed to the manufacture, sale and marketing of stockings, the present invention will be found to be of utility by laundries and the like when returning stockings to customers. It is a common occurrence for customers of laundries to receive stockings in an unsorted and unmatched state. Similarly, mismated stockings are often returned, one or more of which does not belong to the customer, and usually is of a difierent size and slightly different shade with respect to color. To eliminate this practice the present invention can be adapted for use by laundries whereby upon their cleaning and drying an insert can be placed in mating socks in the manner hereinbefore described thereby forming a stocking package of clean stockings that can be returned to the customer with no possibility of improperly mating or matching the socks, and will present the cleaned socks in a flat attractive state.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A sock package comprising a flat substantially stifi strip insert of sheet material having a configuration resembling that of a foot and ankle in vertically extended position, said insert having a substantially straight leading edge, and upper and lower trailing edges, said trailing edges connected to one another by a rearwardly projecting heel portion, a first sock enveloping and carried by said insert in a flat slightly tensioned state, and a second mating sock enveloping said insert and said first stocking 5 in a flat, slightly tensioned state.

2. A sock package in accordance with claim 1 wherem the insert is provided with a folding line positioned transverse to the long axis of said insert to permit the folding of the stocking package upon itself.

3. A stocking package in accordance with claim 1 wherein a rider carrying identifying information is folded over the top of the strip insert and adhesively secured to opposite sides of the second sock immediately adjacent its open end.

4. A stocking package in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of woven ankle cuffs are detachably secured in encircling relationship to the outside surface of said package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 736,314 Thus Aug. 11, 1903 1,332,368 Wadsworth Mar. 2, 1920 1,992,799 Aberle Feb. 26, 1935 2,067,111 Aberle Jan. 5, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 422,244 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1935 152,918 Austria Mar. 25, 1938 665,689 Germany Oct. 1, 1938 

